Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1887-03-04

dearly and to prize more highly, if possible.
the happy moments we spent together-my
Angela and I. / was her chosen escort on
all occasions. We went together to
cathedral and opera. We drove together
in the Piazza del Duomo, and wherever 1
went with her jealous eyes followed the
accepted sutton of the reigning beauty of
Milan. How we'll 1 remember the evening
of a ball at the English Embassy!A Never
had 1 seen Angela look SO beautiful as
when we stood together under the hanging
lamp that illumined her cozy boudoir, and
/ gave full rein to my admiration. She
was pleased with my satisfaction, and the
h~alf-veiled sadness that was meier en-
tirely absent from her eyes or hRr voice
gave place to a look that I am SIRE was
glad md radiant with love, and to ! laugh
that rippled as musically and as 5oyously
as the fall of a mountain torrent over tho
pebbles i'll its path.
"You IRE pleased with me, earino mio??"
she said. "And I am glad to be beautiful
for your sake"
Beautiful indeed she was-keautiful ex-
ceedingly in the queenly statelpess of her
rich, trailing robes of purple ,slvet which
suited SO we'll with the alabastei purity of
her face and neck. Her hair, in oil its
wealth of quantity and color, was bound in
Grecian fillets by cleaning bands OF dia-
monds, which, when the light cleaned on
them, dazzled my eyes by their iridescent
hues. A necklace of the same gems en-
circled her neck, flashing its loneliness in
every direction as if to honor the tran.
scendent beauty Of the fair creature who
wore it. She laughed again when I told
her this, but suddenly checking herself,
said, as 1 offered my arm to lead her to the
carriage: "Hush, Philip, do not let us
laugh. There is some misfortune coming
to mel am sure of il. I have never in
my life been SO happy as to-day, and you
remember the proverb: He who laughs
long weeps soon after You laugh at my
superstition, but presentiments are serious
matters; mine are always realized"
The Contessa had never excited such at
tention and such general admiration as at
this ball. Diplomats, officers, end titled
gentlemen of almost every European ma
tionality crowded around her, solicited the
rapt interest to the lightest worl that fell
from hel lips. I surrendered m. place at
her side willingly enough, for I knew that
no one could deprive me of the place I held
in her heart, and I loved to watch her
triumph. Suddenly, as I stood talking to
the Marchesso di Dido and watching the
| Contessa at a distance, I saw tie famous
singer, Madame R, in response TO the
universal urgent request, seat herself at
the piano placed at the end Of the long
ballroom. and after striking a few chords,
begin to sing. Instantly every 7oice was
silent. Madam RI was accounted the
worlds queen of song, and her singing that
night justified her possession Of the title.
1nvoluntarily as she sang, / glanced at
Angela. Her face wore the look I had
nee before seen there. save that now it
was mingled with an expression OF longing
terrible TO behold. I hurried to her side.
A Russian prince was chatting with her as
I came near. I overheard the last words
| Of his speech-"but all the world remarks
the Contessa's passion for music, and oil
the world has agreed that with the wonder
full sweetness of her voice, the Signora
must indeed be a rare songstress."
Angela's sorrowful eyes, very sad and
very pleading nov, fixed themselves upon
my face as she replied: "Tell me, Prince.
to which you think l would most readily
yield-love or ambition? Remember, l do
not ask fattery, but truth"
"And you shall have it, Contessa," he
answered, eff truth be in my firm belief
that for love you would die, but for ambi-
ton you would rise from the grave"
There was but along-drawn sigh in an
swer, and then she quickly said: 81 will
sing for you tonight when Madame R
has finished"
In a few moments, Madame Rs SOM
was ended and the enthusiastic applause
that followed it had died away. The Con-
tessa rose, asked for my escort to the piano,
and nodded n smiling farewell to the Rus.
sian Prince. A whisper crept through the
room that the Contessa di San Siviglio1e
was going to sing. 1t had not yet reached
the Marchesso di Dido for, as we passed
where be sat in attendance on Madame
R, VI caught a confidential remark in
tended evidently as 1attery, to the purpo-t
that only one singer had ever surpassed
her, and that was-Pompone. The
Contessa clutched my arm 60 mar
rowly that 1 knew she too had heard the
Marchesso's whisper. She chung closer to
me and murmured in a c~onvulsive whisper!
"The Prince was right caro- milo. My am
bition is stronger than my love. Philip,
my presentiment is verified; the misfortune
has come. I don't know what force i'm
pels me to it, but believe me, 1t is not of
my own will l sacrifice my love to my am
! bition."
A spell was over me. I heard her words
but heard them as one in a dream.
seated her at the piano and took my station
opposite her in the deep embrasure of
curtained window. There was a death
like silence in the room-an almost painful
hush, as the Contessa began, and 1, study
ing the faces that were suddenly turned to.
ward the singer, noted the astonishment
written thereon. Jerome, I cannot de-